Have you ever had a dream
that you were weightlessly gliding through the sky? For most of us.. is
is simply a figment of our imagination, but for professional pilots this
is their life. They get paid to live their dream!

"For me, being a pilot is
having a job that I look forward to," said Robby Timmons, sales
director for Tyler International School of Aviation. "It's what I've wanted to
do since I was a little kid."

There are literally dozens
of jobs that one could have as a professional pilot, some of which are
not commonly thought of. Opportunities include crop dusting, photography,
banner towing, T.V. and radio traffic watch, law enforcement, flight instructing
and airlines, just to name a few. For members of the Armed Forces, transitioning
to a career in aviation has always been a popular choice, and now just
might be the perfect time to turn your fantasy into a reality. For those
who already have flight time, Whether its helicopter or fixed wing, your
experience and military background will prove to be extremely valuable
in this industry.

Some people might be skeptical
about beginning their training at a time when many airline pilots are being
furloughed. But according to Michael Bland, general manager for
Flying Colors Pilot Training, the aviation field has always gone
through economic
cycles. He explained that it will take a few years before you are truly
qualified to be hired by any major airline, so now is an opportune moment
to get a head start.

"The best time to start
your
training is when the industry is in a slump," said Bland. "When the
economy
picks up again, you will have had the chance to become fully trained and
ready to be hired."

Timmons agrees that this
is the prime time to get into the flying profession. He explained that
it has always been a growing industry and noted that in the next six to
eight years 40 to 50 percent of airline pilots will be retiring, leaving
the industry with a huge pilot shortage.

"One of the benefits with
starting now is that even though the major airlines aren't hiring, students
are able to get their training and flight hours out of the way," said
Timmons.
"It probably won't be much more than two years before airlines start a
hiring frenzy again. And when that happens there will be an influx of people
signing up for pilot school but right now the schools aren't overloaded
and are able to provide more comprehensive instruction."

Although there is no exam
to enroll in a pilot training program, FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)
regulations requite you to apply far a Class II Medical Certificate prior
to flying solo. There are three classes of medical certificates, Class
I, II and III, each having certain standards, which vary according to the
license that the pilot holds. A pilot must under-go frequent medical examinations
to maintain these licenses.

This
Vector Training System used by Flying Colors Pilot Training simulates their
new fleet of Diamond Katana DA20 model
aircraft.

FAA regulations also state
that pilots cannot receive compensation or hire for the operation of an
aircraft without holding a valid Commercial Pilot certificate. In order
to obtain your Commercial Pilot certificate and become a licensed professional
pilot, you must first receive a Private Pilot certificate, or the equivalent,
and an Instrument Rating.

According to Bruce Long,
flight instructor at Flying
Travel Express Aviation, LLC. there are generally two programs used to receive your commercial license, Part 61 and Part
141. A Part 141 class will have multiple students and is similar to a college
course, whereas, Part 61 is individualized, one-on-one instruction.

"It's all really up to
the
student," said Long. "Some people are able to learn better in a
college
environment and some want more personal attention. But they all get the
same basic training and walk away with the skills needed to be a professional
pilot."

The cost and the amount of
flight hours are, however, two differences among the programs. Part 61
will generally cost between US$2,000 and US$5,000 more and require 50 more
hours of flight time than Part 141.

The bottom line is, acquiring
your pilot's license could take anywhere from two months to two years depending
on the type of program and type of license that you are interested in.
Time and money are also factors that will determine the expedition of your
goals.

"All schools are
different,"
Timmons said. "But with a program that has you flying five days a week,
six hours a day, it should take about seven months for you to complete
the required flight hours and training."

A student and instructor fly through the skies of Canada.

Part 61 and 141 courses can
cost anywhere from US$20,000 to US$50,000. Currently, the Department of
Veterans
Affairs reimburses up to 60 percent of an eligible student's tuition when
they enroll in VA approved training programs. Therefore, it is important
to find out whether or not the school of your choice is part of this military
specific assistance, which could possibly save you up to
US$10,000.

In addition, each school
has their own policy on tuition payments. For example, some schools may
require the full cost of the program before enrollment while others may
only require that the cost for flight time be prepaid in full.

There are many pilot training
facilities out there, the key is to spend time researching the different
schools and programs available. Look over all the options they offer and
decide what best fits your needs.

According to Eric Norber,
director of admissions for Pan Am International Flight Academy, his
school
offers a Military Helicopter to Airline Transition program. This program
takes into account all the knowledge; experience and flight hours recorded
as a helicopter pilot and puts you into a "fast track" program.

"It is a relatively new
program,
specifically designed for members of the military who have helicopter experience
and want a commercial pilot license," said Norber.

For pilots without fixed-wing
time, the program can be completed in about 18 weeks, saving you a considerable
amount of money.

There are similar programs
available for those with fixed-wing experience.

A view
from the cockpit.

"Military pilots have a
marked
advantage," said Timmons. "That's why it is so important to keep
accurate
flight log records, to get ratings and any other official documents that
they might have."

Timmons also advised that
military pilots with fixed-wing experience take a civilian pilot equivalency
test before leaving the service. He said that the test should be accessible
on your installation and that this will also save you a lot of time and
money.

When you do begin your professional
pilot course, ground training classes will be the first thing you do, followed
by flight training, both dual and solo. During your training, you can expect
to learn about aviation safety, aerodynamics, air navigation, advanced
meteorology, aircraft systems, etc.

"I enjoy navigating the
weather
and handling all the different challenges that flying presents," said
Long.

According to Timmons, now
and for the next couple of years you will need between 3,000 to 5,000 flight
hours to fly for a major airline, 1,500 to 2,500 hours to fly for a regional
airline, and around 1,200 hours to fly a charter/freight plane.

Once you have earned your
commercial pilot license, there are a couple of career routes that you
can take in order to gain more flight hours. One option is to get a job
like banner towing or crop dusting, which require little experience. There
is also the possibility of flying as a first officer for a regional airline,
then upgrading to captain. Another option is to continue your education
by either joining a program referred to as the First Officer training program
or by completing a Professional Flight Instructor program.

Timmons said that the most
common route is becoming a flight instructor, which will require about
three more months of training and cost an additional US$8,000. The job of
Bight instructor is often considering a stepping-stone to higher paying
flying positions. The greater the number of flying hours and the more complex
the flying skills, the more varied the opportunities are for advancement
as a pilot.

"As a certified flight
instructor,
you will be able to work at any of the thousands of airports in the U.S.
while earning money, flight time and a degree at a local university if
you want," said Timmons.

Higher education is becoming
more and more important in the aviation field and having a degree essentially
opens doors to other opportunities. Virtually all U.S. airlines prefer
to hire college or university graduates and many will not hire you unless
you have at least a two-year degree.

The pay scale for a professional
pilot mainly depends on what particular field you're in, how much experience
you have and what airline you are working for. Jobs requiring minimal experience,
such as crop dusting and banner towing, can pay anywhere from US$10,000 to
US$20,000 per year. A flight instructor can earn anywhere from US$15,000
to
US$35,000 per year. A regional airline pilot typically starts at anywhere
from US$20,000 to US$30,000 per year and may see annual increases of about
US$10,000. Once hired at a major airline, pay scales start at anywhere
from
US$30,000 to US$50,000 per year and will usually increase much more
quickly
than at the regional airlines.

Maximum income at a regional
airline will be around US$75,000 per year, while top captains for a major
airline frequently exceed US$250,000 per year. Often times a captain will
only work 10 to 14 days a month.

Even though the FAA requires
pilots to retire from the airlines at age 60, many pilots at age 60 and
beyond find rewarding careers flying corporate aircraft, charter flights
or a wide variety of other non-airline type flying.

"A lot of this industry
is
about who you know," said Timmons. "And that is a big reason why
there's
a lot of pilots who are ex-military."

Although Timmons, Bland and
Long all had difficulties coming up with any negative aspects about being
a pilot, there is the issue of family. And even though many military families
are accustomed to spending various lengths of time away from each other,
it needs to be discussed.

"If you have a family, it
can be a difficult schedule," Timmons said. "It is something that
has to
be weighed very carefully."

Money is another possible
concern. Some schools prohibit you from having a job while enrolled in
their program. It is an effort to provide more efficient, intense training,
however, not having any income for a relatively long time might cause some
financial stress. These are reasons why it is imperative to thoroughly
review all your options available before choosing a school and their class.

"I got into this business
because I love it," Bland said. "You get to see things that many
people
will never get to see. There's a saying, 'One mile of highway will take
you one mile, one mile of runway will take you anywhere in the
world.'"